Below is the official press release from the Academy announcing 176 individuals who have now been invited to the Academy. Unlike past years, the number of questionable selections is minimized, though I wonder why the heavy admission of actors who are primarily working in television (Simon Baker, Margo Martinda and S. Epatha Merkerson do work in film, but not as much as they seem to work on TV, though the latter two are excellent choices regardless).

What’s surprising when you come across a name that should have been admitted years ago but wasn’t such as Tom Berenger, Janet McTeer, Lili Taylor and Michelle Yeoh among the actors; Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Kasi Lemmons, Terrence Malick and Wong Kar Wai among directors; Ryuichi Sakamoto in music; Greg Butler in Visual Effects; or Grant Heslov among writers. These seem like fairly obvious names since Berenger, McTeer, Malick, Sakamoto, Heslov and Butler were all Oscar nominees and/or winners in the past. A few like the Dardennes, Malick and Wong were likely invited previously but turned the Academy down. These lists are intended more towards shaming those who don’t join into doing so in a somewhat public way, although we won’t know until a future list if any of them said no.

So, here is the list with the press release.

Academy Invites 176 to Membership

Beverly Hills, CA (June 29, 2012) – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 176 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2012 to the Academy’s roster of members.

“These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “I’m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member.”

Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.

Three individuals (noted above by an asterisk) have been invited to join the Academy by multiple branches. These individuals must select one branch upon accepting membership.

New members will be welcomed into the Academy at an invitation-only reception in September.

The Academy’s Board of Governors also approved a recommendation from the Art Directors Branch; moving forward, the branch will be known as the Designers Branch. The branch includes production designers, art directors, set decorators and costume designers.

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ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.